Anna Menon
Anna Menon is an American engineer scheduled to fly on Polaris Dawn, a private space mission.[1] Menon worked for NASA for seven years before joining SpaceX, where she works as a lead engineer of space operations.
Anna Menon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anna Wilhelm |
| Status | Active |
| Alma mater | Texas Christian University (Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Spanish) Duke University (MSc-BME) |
| Space career | |
Current occupation | SpaceX Lead Operations Engineer and Mission Director |
Previous occupation | Biomedical Flight Controller at NASA |
Time in space | None (5 days planned) |
| Missions | Polaris Dawn |
Education
Menon earned a Bachelor's degree in mathematics and Spanish from Texas Christian University and a Master of Science degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University.[2]
Menon was also a member of the Iota Lambda chapter of Alpha Chi Omega sorority at Texas Christian university.
Career
NASA
Menon was a NASA biomedical flight controller for the International Space Station, assisting ISS crews from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and leading biomedical operations for Expedition 41[3][2] including ISS US EVA's 27 and 28.[4]
SpaceX
Menon is a Mission Director at SpaceX, where she helps the development of human spaceflight missions and works at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. She manages the execution of Dragon manufacturing and operates as Crew Communications Operator.[2][5]
Menon is scheduled to fly on Polaris Dawn, a private spaceflight funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman.[6][7][8]
Personal life
Menon is married to Anil Menon, lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force, NASA astronaut and former SpaceX Medical Director.[9] They have two children.[10] Both she and her husband appeared in the final episode of the five-episode television documentary entitled Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space, released on Netflix in September 2021.[11]
References
- "Jared Isaacman, who led the first all-private astronaut mission to orbit, has commissioned 3 more flights from SpaceX". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- "Anna Menon". polarisprogram.com. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- Quint, The (February 17, 2022). "SpaceX Engineer Anna Menon Part of Crew for New Mission Called 'Polaris Dawn'". TheQuint. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- Expedition 41 US Spacewalk EVA 28 October 15 Part 2, retrieved March 4, 2022
- "Meet Anna Menon, crew member of SpaceX mission and wife of Kerala-origin astronaut candidate". OnManorama. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- "Jared Isaacman, who led the first all-private astronaut mission to orbit, has commissioned three more flights from SpaceX". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
- "Polaris Dawn". Polaris Program. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- "Meet the crew: SpaceX engineer Anna Menon to be on next space mission announced by Jared Isaacman". The Economic Times. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- Mars, Kelli (December 3, 2021). "NASA Astronaut Anil Menon". NASA. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- "Who Is Anna Menon? The SpaceX Engineer Part Of Mission Polaris Dawn". Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- Petski, Denise (August 3, 2021). "Netflix Greenlights 'Inspiration4' All Civilian Space Mission Docuseries From 'The Last Dance' Team". Deadline Hollywood.